Music-rack for musical instruments



(No Model.)

W. H; IVERS.

I MUSIG RACK FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

No. 252,587. Patented Jan.1'7,1882.

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" UNITED STATES PAT T ()FFICE.

WILLIAM H. IVERS, OF DEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGN OR TO THE IVERS & POND PIANO COMPANY, OF MASSACHUSETTS.

- MUSIC-RACK FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,587, dated January 17, 1882.

Application filed October- 29, 1881.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. IVERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dedham, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVIusic-Racks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a music-rack for upright pianos or organs adapted to be readily and expeditiously moved outward into a sloping position when desired to hold music, or as expeditiously returned to place and folded closely up to the front of a piano or organ in a position to occupy as little space as possible.

The drawings accompanying this specification represent, in Figure 1, a perspective view of a portion of the front of an upright piano or organ with my improvements added thereto andwith the rack in an open or extended state, while Fig. 2 is a rear view, and Fig. 3 avertical section, of the same.

In said drawings, A represents a portion of the front board of the case of an upright piano or organ above the keys.

B represents a flat music-rack, which may be of a board of wood, or of ornamental scrollwork or other design, this rack being placed in front of the center of the casefront A, and hinged at about its middle to the lower part of such front by links a a, as shown in Figs. 2 and3of the drawings, theselinks beingof such length as to impart the desired slope or angle to the rack when the latter is open or in position for use. The rack B is also connected at its back with the case-front A by a horizontal rocking plate or bar, 0, which is disposed in rear of such rack and within an opening, D, in the case-front, this connecting-bar being pivoted horizontally at its ends upon its rear side, within opposite sides of said opening, while at (No model.)

its front orouter edgeitis pivotedateach end to the rack 13 at a point between the upper edge of such rack and the point of connection of the links a a, the width of the bar 0 being such that when lowered into a. sloping position by the dropping of the rack the upper edge of said rack shall abut closely against the front ,A of the case, while the'lower edge of such rack stands out from such case-front to the extent of the length of the links a a.

To retain the rack B in its closed state against the front A, I employ a plate-spring, E, which I secure at its base or upper end to the rear side of the case-front A, while to the lower and free end of this spring I secure one end of'a hand, cord, or chain, 1), this band being preferably wound once or twice about the rocking bar 0, and secured at its opposite end to such bar in such manner as to act upon and raise the latter into an upright position. Other forms of springs than this may be employed to raise the rack; but I prefer this, as it is smooth, noiseless, effective in action, and readily applied.

F in the drawings represents a narrow strip or bar, hinged near its inner edge to the lower front corner of the rack B, this strip, when lowered into the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, serving as a ledge or support for the music, and when therack is notin use this strip is folded closely up against the front of the rack, as shown in Fig. 3 ot' the drawings.

The operation of my rack will be seen at a glance. When the instrument is to be used the player lowers the ledge F into a horizontal position, and then by downward pressure upon it lowers the rack into the sloping position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the draft of the spring being exerted upon the bar 0 in such a direction that the latterremains'in its lowest position and retains the rack in its sloping position until forcibly returned to place.

1 claim- 1. The combination of a case'front fora musical instrument with the rack B and links and a rocking bar connecting said rack to the case-front, said bar being pivoted to the rack at apoint between the links and the upper edge of said rack, and serving to retain the In testimony whereofI affix my signaturcin rack immovable when the latter is in position presence ottwo witnesses. for use, substantially as set forth. Y

2. The combination, with the music-rack, of WILLIAM H. IVERS. 5 the case-front links a, and rocking bar 0, a

spring secured to the back of the case-front, Witnesses: and cord or chain 11,2111 operating substan- G. M. GIBSON, tially as set forth. ERNEST MEAD. 

